More than 39,000 Palestinian children have been orphaned amid the relentless Israeli military campaign on the Gaza Strip, marking what has been described as the “largest orphan crisis in modern history,” according to a new report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Released ahead of Palestinian Children’s Day, the report highlights the severe toll of the 534-day war, which began on October 7, 2023. A total of 39,384 children have lost one or both parents, with approximately 17,000 children now completely without familial care and support.

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens with each passing day. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on Friday that the total death toll has now surged to 50,609, with at least 115,063 others injured since the start of the Israeli assault. In the last 24 hours alone, 86 Palestinians were martyred and 287 others wounded, further overwhelming Gaza’s already crippled health infrastructure.

A Graveyard for Children

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, described the situation as “harrowing,” revealing that an average of 100 Palestinian children are killed or injured daily since "Israel" resumed its assault after a brief ceasefire was broken on March 18. UNICEF figures cited by Lazzarini indicate that at least 15,000 children have been killed since the war began.

“Gaza has become a no land for children,” said Lazzarini. “This is a stain on our common humanity. Nothing justifies the killing of children wherever they are.” He repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the urgency of halting what he termed “the war not of children’s making.”

Food as a Weapon of War

Lazzarini also condemned Israel’s ongoing blockade and siege of Gaza, accusing it of weaponizing humanitarian aid. "Hunger and desperation spread as food and relief assistance are being weaponized," he said. The Israeli-imposed siege has blocked the entry of vital food, fuel, and medicine for over a month, leading to a catastrophic deterioration of civilian life.

“This amounts to collective punishment,” the UN official warned. “Aid must be allowed in, and the siege must be lifted.”

Deliberate Attacks and Genocidal Intent

In a statement on Friday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, accused Israel of intensifying its campaign of genocide. Areas such as Khuzaa, al-Nasr, Shujaiya, and al-Tuffah have reportedly witnessed some of the worst bombardments, with dozens of civilians martyred, including women and children.

According to Hamas, Israeli forces targeted critical civilian infrastructure, including a water desalination plant in al-Tuffah, an act they labeled as a clear war crime aimed at deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The statement went further, accusing the occupation of waging “a fascist, sadistic campaign of revenge,” with goals extending beyond military objectives to include forced displacement, genocide, and the complete erasure of Palestinian presence in Gaza.

A Failing International Response

Hamas denounced the international community’s silence and inaction in the face of what it calls blatant violations of international law. “These crimes will remain a stain of shame on the forehead of the international community and its complicit, silent system,” the movement declared.

As Gaza reels under the weight of mass death, orphanhood, and hunger, calls for accountability and urgent international action grow louder. With more than 50,000 Palestinians dead and over 115,000 injured, the human cost of Israel’s ongoing assault has now crossed a horrifying threshold, leaving generations scarred and tens of thousands of children with no one left to call family. (ILKHA)